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Gently and Wisely

Guiding Imaging Tests

We all know someone – a family member, friend, or neighbor – who has had some form of medical imaging. Whether it’s an X-ray mammogram, CT lung scan or MRI with contrast of the knee, our health care system uses an increasing number of imaging tests to help identify a variety of diseases and injuries.

For the most part, advances in imaging are a very good thing. Especially when they are used to get the best imaging information with the lowest possible radiation dose.

Medical imaging saves lives and makes it easier for radiologists such as Kenneth Salce, M.D., of Northern Arizona Radiology, to find and diagnose disease as soon as possible and with the most accuracy.

"Advances in medical imaging over the past 20 years have been amazing,” said Salce. “Greater accuracy and lower radiation have continued to make imaging procedures better, safer and faster, saving lives and helping to rule out – or more effectively treat – injury and disease."

A powerful 2009 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that increased use of medical imaging was directly tied to an increase in life expectancy for Americans. It has also been clearly demonstrated that breast cancer screening (mammography) significantly reduces breast cancer mortality, and new, low-dose CT lung scans show great potential to reduce lung cancer mortality and lower treatment costs.

With the rapid increase in the number and frequency of imaging procedures, two organizations were formed to promote the safest use of medical imaging technology: Image Gently ® for pediatric imaging and Image Wisely ® for adult imaging. Northern Arizona Radiology has officially taken both the Image Gently and Image Wisely pledges. This means the center and its staff are committed to raising awareness of opportunities to lower radiation doses for necessary procedures and eliminate medically unnecessary imaging exams.

"These programs assure patients and their referring physicians that our facility and staff have pledged to carefully balance potential radiation exposure risks with the benefits gained from such procedures," explained Salce.

Launched in 2007, the Image Gently campaign is an initiative of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging that encourages the safe imaging of pediatric patients. The campaign’s goal is to change practice by increasing awareness of radiation protection in the imaging of children. Built on the success of the Image Gently campaign, the Image Wisely campaign focuses on increasing awareness of adult radiation protection. Image Wisely is a collaborative effort of the Joint Task Force on Adult Radiation Protection (made up of members of the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

For more information, patients and health care professionals can visit the websites imagegently.org and imagewisely.org.

Kenneth V Salce, M.D.

Board certified radiologist practicing diagnostic and interventional radiology in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Salce attended the University of Southern California, School of Medicine and completed his training at UCLA/Harbor General Hospital and Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.

Dr. Salce has developed an active interventional radiology practice including the treatment of arterial and venous vascular disease. He is an active member of the Society of Interventional Radiology and acts as a medical consultant for W.L. Gore & Associates.

Throughout Arizona

The Northern Arizona Radiology offices are conveniently located on the first floor of the Physicians and Surgeons Building, just north of the hospital on the SE corner of Forest Ave and Beaver St. Free on-site parking is available. Please be aware that there are three (3) NAR offices. Check-in at the suite appropriate for the exam you are having performed. See below.

Suite 101, to the right as you enter the building: Mammography, Women’s Ultrasound, & Breast Biopsies

Suite 105, down the hall on the right as you enter the building: MRI

Suite 102, just to the left as you enter the building: X-Ray, General Ultrasound, CT, PET/CT, Bone Densitometry, Nuclear Medicine & Interventional procedures

Northern Arizona Radiology has been the leader in state-of-the-art medical imaging throughout Flagstaff, Coconino County, and the surrounding areas for more than 40 years.

Established in 1962, Northern Arizona Radiology is a dedicated team of experienced, board-certified radiologists, licensed technologists, and caring staff who strive to provide the highest quality medical imaging to all of Northern Arizona.